Hanger handle

ABSTRACT

A HANGER HANDLE TO CARRY A PLURALITY OF CLOTHES-HANGERS IN AN OVER-THE-SHOULDER MANNER WHEREIN THE AGEMENTS ARE ORIENTED TO OPTIMALLY DISTRIBUTE THE WEIGHT THEREOF, AND WHEREIN THE HANGER HANDLE IS CONSTRUCTED TO PERMIT THE INDIVIDUAL USING THE DEVICE TO HAVE HIS ARM AND HAND IN THE MAXIMUM COMFORT AND STRENGTH POSITION.

'I'- V. ROBERTS HANGER HANDLE Sept. 21., 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 FiledMarch 28, 1969 INVENTOR. fay/man 1/ Faber rs p 1971 1'. v. ROBERTS3,606,967

HANGER HANDLE Filed March 28, 1969 2 sh t t g INVENTOR.

2 700/0700 1/ Qaber/s ATTORNEY United States Patent 01 fice 3,606,967Patented Sept. 21, 1971 3,606,967 HANGER HANDLE Toulman V. Roberts, 8909Lakehurst, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73120 Filed Mar. 28, 1969, Ser. No.811,373 Int. Cl. A47g 25/06 U.S. Cl. 224-45T Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention Thisinvention relates generally to improvements in devices to carry aplurality of clothes-hangers, and, more particularly, but not by way oflimitation, to a device to carry a plurality of clothes-hangers in anover-theshoulder manner.

(2.) Description of the prior art There are many circumstances where itis necessary for an individual to carry a number of garments supportedon clothes-hangers. The conventional approach to this circumstance hasbeen for a person to merely secure his index and forefinger through thehook portion of the clothes-hangers, and then try to carry them in anover-theshoulder manner. Although useful for carrying one and perhapstwo garments, this approach becomes a quite painful process as thenumber of garments or their weight increases. It should be noted thatthe garments when carried in this manner become extremely unmanageable.

There have been various attempts in the past to provide a device forconveniently carrying a number of garments supported on clothes-hangers.One such device, consisted of a rectangular ring-shaped handle havingrounded ends thereon. A ring was pivotally secured to a portion of thehandle. The hooks of the clothes-hangers were supported around theperiphery of the ring. Although this device was adequate in somesituations, it did have the disadvantages of not securely fixing theposition of the clothes-hangers with respect to the handle, and ofhaving the garments positioned at various angles with respect to thering. Therefore, when an individual attempted to carry a number ofgarments in an over-theshoulder manner using this device, the garmentswere positioned at various angles with respect to the individuals back.The result of having the garments positioned at various angles and notsecurely positioned was that the garments tended to cause a twistingforce on the carrying device and on the individuals hands and arm. Itshould also be noted that in devices of this type the clotheshangerstended to become removed from the ring portion of the particular device.Since the device was constructed of at least two separate pieces, thecost of manufacturing and assembling the device was also relativelyhigh.

Another device used in the past basically consisted of a rectangularshaped handle having a plurality of apertures on one side thereof. Thistype of device had the disadvantage of positioning the garmentsgenerally perpendicular to the individuals back when used to carrygarments in an over-the-shoulder manner. When used in this manner, theindividual would grip the side of the handle opposite the side havingthe apertures therein. Since the device was gripped by the individual ata portion adjacent the hanger hooks, it is apparent that the individualwould either have to extend the garments a distance over his shouldertoward the front portion of his body, or raise his arm in an extremeelevated position, extending his fist over his shoulder, which was quiteuncomfortable.

One solution to some of these problems was to provide a device whereinthe handle or carrying means extended from a base. The handle was a veryflexible strap-type device. A block, having a plurality of strapssecured thereto, was extended perpendicular to the base, and securedthereto. The hooks of the clothes-hangers were then extended through thestraps. The individual would grasp the flexible strap when using thedevice to carry the garments in an over-the-shoulder manner. This devicedid permit the hanger carrying portion to be extended over the shoulder;however, the force exerted by the garments was concentrated on oneportion of the individuals hand. It should also be noted that it wasdifficult to control the position of the garments by simply holding ontoa flexiblestrap. In other words, the lateral movement of the garmentswith respect to the individual was not controllable when using this typeof device. It is also apparent from the foregoing that devices of thistype consisted of a large number of separate parts, which made theconstruction and assembly of these devices relatively diflicult andexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a hangerhandle which is used to carry garments supported on a plurality ofclothes-hangers in an over-the-shoulder manner. The hanger handlebasically comprises a handle means having an aperture therethrough toprovide a gripping area. A hanger support flange, having opposite ends,is secured on one end thereof to the hanger handle. The hanger supportflange extends generally perpendicularly to the handle. An apertureextends through the hanger support flange and is sized to accommodate aplurality of clothes-hangers such that the supported garments extendgenerally perpendicularly to the handle and generally parallel to thindividual carrying the hanger handle.

An object of the invention is to provide a hanger handle which isparticularly useful for carrying garments supported on clothes-hangersin an over-the-shoulder manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger handle whereinthe Weight of the garments is optimally distributed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hanger handle whichis constructed such that the individuals hand and arm is in a maximumstrength and comfort position while using the device to carry thegarments in an over-the-shoulder manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger handle whereinthe position of the garments with respect to the individuals back issuch that the garments will not tend to twist the hanger handle or theindividuals hand when using the device to carry garments in anoverthe-shoulder manner. T

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hanger handlewhich is economical in construction and operation.

Other objects'and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate the various embodiments of theinvention.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION .OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hangerhandle constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the hanger handle of FIG. 1 showing aplurality of clothes-hangers supported thereon.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating a modified hangerhandle.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating another modifiedhanger handle.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating still anothermodified hanger handle.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating yetanother modified hanger handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings in detail and to FIG. 1 in particular, shown therein anddesignated by the general reference character 10 is a hanger handleconstructed in accordance with the invention. The hanger handle 10basically comprises a handle 12 and a hanger support flange 14.

The handle 12 is basically rectangular in shape having side portions 16and 18 and end portions 20 and 22. In a preferred form, as shown in FIG.1, the corners 24 of the handle 12 are rounded to eliminate the safetyhazard which would be inherent with sharp edges.

An elongated, rectangularly shaped aperture 26 extends through thehandle 12, and it is disposed between the side portions 16 and 18 andthe end portions 20 and 22. The aperture 26 is provided to accommodate aportion of the individuals hand during the operation of the hangerhandle 10, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The exactsize of aperture 26 is not critical, but should be such that it isconsistent with the intended purpose as described hereinabove andhereinafter. The corners 28 formed by the aperture 26 are also roundedto eliminate the existence of sharp edges. This is particularlyimportant in this area of the hanger handle 10 since the individualshand will be in contact with the walls formed by the aperture 26. Thehanger support flange 14 extends perpendicularly to the handle 12 and,as shown in FIG. 1, is secured on one end thereto. In a preferred form,the handle 12 and the hanger support flange 14 are constructed as anintegral unit and are of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as aplastic-like material, for the purpose of economy of manufacture. Moreparticularly, such construction provides a stable and proper alignmentof the garments, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The end 30 of the hanger support flange 14 is rounded, and an aperture32 extends through the hanger support flange 14 near the end 30 thereof.The specific purpose of the aperture 32 will be described in more detailhereinafter.

An elongated aperture 34 extends through the hanger support flange 14,and extends between the end 30 and the end portion of the hanger supportflange 14 which is connected to the handle 12. The elongated aperture 34is provided to accommodate a portion of the hooks of the clotheshangers; therefore, the width 36 of the aperture 34 is sized to beslightly larger than the diameter of each hook portion. In one form, thewidth 36 may be sized to be slightly less than the diameter of the hookportion of the clothes-hanger so that an interference fit is establishedbetween the hook portion of the clothes-hanger and the aperture 34.

The length of the hanger support flange 14 will of course depend on aparticular size of hanger handle being constructed, however, the portion38 between one end of the aperture 34 and the handle 12 should be asuflicient length to allow the garments to be extended over anindividuals shoulder while permitting the individuals arm and hand to beextended in a comfortable position while gripping the handle 12. In oneform, a recess may be provided in the portion 38 of the hanger supportflange 14 to accommodate identification information, and an advertisingimpression may be included on the portion 38 on the side of the hangersupport flange 14 opposite the side on which the identification recessis impressed.

OPERATION OF FIGS. 1 AND 2 In a preferred form, the hanger handle 10 isused to carry garments which are supported on clothes-hangers 1n anover-the-shoulder manner. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the hookportions 40 of the clothes-hangers 42 are threaded through the apertures34 of the hanger support flange 14. In this position, theclothes-hangers 42 and therefore the garments will extend generallyperpendicular to the hanger support flange 14.

The particular number of clothes-hangers which can be carried by thehanger handle 10 will of course depend on a particular size of thehanger handle. However, with a given size or length of the aperture 34in the hanger support flange 14, the number of garments which may becarried by the hanger handle 10 will vary depending on the type ofgarment being carried. For example, if an individual were carrying bulkyfur coats, a particular hanger handle would carry less total garmentsthan if he were carrying a number of shirts which can be tightly packedtogether. The hook portion 40 of each of the clothes-hangers 42 willassume its respective position within the aperture 34 to compensate forthe varying thickness of the individual garments. The elongated aperture34 therefore permits a wider flexibility in the use of a given hangerhandle.

After the hook portions 40 have been threaded through the aperture 34,the individual would grip the handle 12 by extending his fingers throughthe aperture 26 and generally around the side portion 16 of the handle12. The garments are then extended over the individuals back. In thiscarrying position, the portion 38 of the hanger support flange 14 willrest upon the shoulder of the individual, the hanger support flange 14will extend over his shoulder beyond his back, and the handle 12 willextend over his shouder to a position generally in front of his chest.

In the carrying position described hereinabove, the garments areextended parallel and generally adjacent the individuals back. Theindividuals arm is extended generally upwardly to a position wherein hishand is in approximately the same horizontal plane 'as the upper portionof his shoulder. The natural tendency of the arm when in this positionis to drop to a relaxed position, parallel and adjacent the individualsside. This natural tendency or natural force exerted by the individualarm pulls the portion 38 of the hanger handle 10 into contact with theupper portion of his shoulder, and pulls the hanger handle 10 in agenerally forward direction moving the garments into a more snug,adjacent position with respect to his back.

Since the handle 12 and the hanger support flange 14 are securedtogether, the garments will exert a force in a downward directionparallel to the individuals back, thereby eliminating the twisting forcenormally exerted by garments on carrying devices where the handleportion and the hanger flange portion are not rigidly secured together,or where one is of a rigid construction and the other is of a flexibleconstruction.

The elongated apertures 34 maintains the resultant force exerted by thegarments in substantially the same vertical plane. Since the handle 12is rigidly secured to the hanger support flange 14, and both are of arigid or semi-rigid construction, the resultant force exerted by thegarments is in substantially the same vertical plane as the resultantforce exerted by the individuals arm, thereby allowing the individual tosupport the weight of the garments with a minimum exertion of strength,and yet maintain his arm in the maximum strength and comfort position.

The aperture 32 in the hanger support flange 14 is provided tofacilitate the storage of the hanger handle without the necessity ofremoving the clothes-hanger and garments from the hanger handle 10. Asingle hook which is normally found in most clothes-closets and in mosthotel rooms is used to support the hanger handle 10 and the garments inthis non-operative position. The hook is simply inserted through theaperture 32. The relative position of the garments is not shifted whenthe hanger handle 10 is supported in this manner, therefore theindividual can quickly and easily grip the handle 12; lift the hangerhandle 10 from the hook, and place the hanger handle 10 in the carryingposition with the minimum effort and the maximum convenience.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 3

The hanger handle 10a shown in FIG. 3 is a slight modification of thehanger handle 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and, in fact, the hangerhandle 10a is constructed exactly like the hanger handle 10 except ashereinafter described.

The handle 12a of the hanger handle 10a comprises an elongated bar 46.The bar 46 extends perpendicular to the hanger support flange 14, and aportion thereof is secured or formed integral with the hanger supportflange 14. In a preferred form, the bar 46 has a generally circularcross section, and a portion of the outer periphery thereof is knurledto provide a gripping surface. It should be noted that in another form,the bar 46 could have a rectangular cross-section with a knurled outerperiphery.

The bar 46 has opposite ends 48 and 50 which extend in oppositedirections from the hanger support flange 14. The length of the bar 46between the ends 48 and 50 thereof is not critical, but should beconstructed consistent with the purpose of the handle 12a, i.e. toprovide a gripping area for the individuals hand.

OPERATION OF FIG. 3

The hanger handle 10a, shown in FIG. 3, will operate exactly like thehanger handle 10, shown in FIG. 1 and 2, except that the hanger handle10a is gripped by the individual in a slightly dilferent manner.

In a preferred form, the individual will grip the bar 46, and extend hisfingers generally around the bar 46 in such a manner that two of thefingers are disposed on one side of the hanger support flange 14, andthe other two fingers are disposed on the opposite side of the hangersupport flange 14. In this position, the hanger handle 10a is used tocarry a plurality of garments in an over-theshoulder manner similar tothat described with respect to the hanger handle 10, shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

It is apparent that the hanger handle 10a retains all of the advantagesdescribed hereinbefore with respect to the hanger handle 10, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and yet provides a handle construction which in someinstances may be less expensive to manufacture, and which requires lessmaterial to construct.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 4

Another modification of a hanger handle constructed in accordance withthe invention is shown in FIG. 4 and designated generally by thereference character 10b. The hanger handle 10b is constructed exactlylike the hanger handle 10, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that thehandle 12a is circular in shape, and a circular-shaped aperture 52 isprovided therethrough to accommodate the individuals hand. In apreferred form, the handle 12b has a generally circular cross-sectionand it may be provided with a knurled outer periphey to provide agripping surface.

OPERATION OF FIG. 4

The hanger handle 10=b will operate exactly like the hanger handle 10,shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the hanger handle 10b retains all of theadvantages described hereinbefore with respect to the hanger handle 10.

6 EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 5

The hanger handle 100, shown in FIG. 5, is constructed exactly like thehanger handle 10", shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except the elongated aperture340 in the hanger support flange has a plurality of serrations 54 alongeach side of the aperture 340.

In a preferred form, the width 55 of each serration 54 is sized to beslightly in excess of the diameter of the hook portion of aclothes-hanger. In another form, the width 55 of each serration is sizedto be slightly less than the diameter of the hook portion of a clotheshanger, thereby providing an interference fit between the serra tions 54and each of the clothes hangers.

OPERATION OF FIG. 5

The significant difierence between the operation of the hanger handle100, shown in FIG. 5, and the hanger handle 10, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,is that the serrations 54 are provided in the hanger handle 10c toaccommodate each hook portion of each of the clothes-hangers. Thespacing of each of the clothes-hangers in the hanger handle 10c is thusset by the particular position of each of the serrations 54. Therefore,the hanger handle 10c provides a more positive location of each of theclotheshangers.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 6

The hanger handle 10d shown in FIG. 6 is constructed exactly like thehanger handle 10', shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the handle 12ddoes not lie in the same plane as the hanger support flange 14. Thehandle 12d is turned with respect to the hanger support flange 14 suchthat the plane in which the handle 12d lies makes an angle 56 withrespect to the plane in which the hanger support flange 14 lies. In apreferred form the angle 56 is approximately 45 degrees.

OPERATION OF FIG. 6

The hanger handle 10d will operate in substantially the same manner asthe hanger handle 10', shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except when the hangerhandle 10d is in the carrying position, the individual is able to orienthis hand angularly with respect the upper portion of his shoulder. Thehanger 10d will of course retain all of the advantages of the hangerhandle 10, and yet allow the individual to angularly orient his hand toa position which may be more comfortable, this depending upon theindividual.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the various embodiments of thehanger handle described herein provide a device for carrying a pluralityof garments supported upon clothes-hangers. The device is convenient touse, easily stored, requires only minimum effort of an individual, andmay be economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts orelements of the various embodiments as disclosed without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger handle of a semi-rigid material for carrying garmentssupported on a plurality of clothes-hangers over the shoulders of anindividual, comprising:

a handle having a portion thereof shaped to provide a gripping surface;and

an elongated hanger support flange having opposite ends, the hangersupport flange extending generally perpendicular to the handle, one endof the hanger support flange rigidly connected to a portion of thehandle, the hanger support flange having an elongated aperture extendingbetween said opposite ends perpendicular with respect to the handle andbeing sized to accommodate a plurality of clothes-hangers such that thegarments supported thereon extend generally perpendicular to the hangersupport flange and parallel to the individuals back when the hanger isextended over the individuals shoulder in the carrying position thereofwith the gripping surface of the handle in a substantially horizontalplane and the hanger support flange in a substantially horizontal planeextending generally perpendicularly to the individuals back.

2. The hanger handle of claim 1 wherein the handle means and the hangersupport flange lie in substantially the same plane.

3. The hanger handle of claim 1 wherein the handle means and the hangersupport flange lie in separate planes which are angularly disposed withrespect to each other.

4. The hanger handle of claim 1 wherein the handle means is definedfurther to include a generally rectangular shaped portion having asubstantially rectangular shaped aperture extending therethrough, saidaperture being sized to accommodate some of the individuals fingerswhich extend therethrough.

5. The hanger handle of claim 1 wherein the handle means is definedfurther to include a bar extending in opposite directions from thehanger support flange to provide a gripping area.

6. The hanger handle of claim 1 wherein the handle means is definedfurther to include a generally circular shaped portion, having asubstantially circular shaped aperture extending therethrough, saidaperture being sized to accommodate some of the individuals fingers toprovide a gripping area.

7. The hanger handle of claim 1 wherein the aperture means in the hangersupport flange is an elongated aperture extending between the oppositeends of the hanger support flange.

8. The hanger handle of claim 7 wherein the elongated aperture includesa plurality of serrations along each side of the aperture.

9. A hanger handle for carrying garments supported on a plurality ofclothes-hangers over the shoulder of an individual in a carryingposition thereof and adapted to be supported by a hook means in anon-operative position thereof, comprising:

a handle means shaped to provide a gripping area;

and

a hanger support flange, having opposite ends, which extends generallyperpendicular to the handle means and being secured on one end thereofto the handle means, an aperture being formed in one end portion thereofopposite the end portion secured to the handle means, the aperture beingsized to accommodate a hook means such that the hanger handle and thegarments thereon can be supported in a nonoperative position, the hangersupport flange having an aperture means sized to accommodate a pluralityof clothes hangers such that the garments supported thereon extendgenerally perpendicular to said hanger support flange.

10. A hanger handle for carrying garments supported on a plurality ofclothes-hangers over the shoulder of an individual, comprising:

a handle means to provide a gripping area; and

a hanger support flange, having opposite ends, which extend generallyperpendicular to the handle means and is secured on one end thereof tothe handle means, the hanger support flange having an elongated aperturetherethrough extending between the opposite ends of the hanger supportflange, a plurality of serrations formed along each side of theelongated aperture, the elongated aperture sized to accommodate aplurality of clothes-hangers, such that the garments supported thereonextend generally perpendicular to the hanger support flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,55 9,064 7/ 19'51 Cunningham224-X 2,598,643 5/1952 Kaplan et a1. 224--45X 2,629,529 2/1953 Threeton22445.14 2,769,5 87 11/ 1956 Threeton 22445. 14 3,313,460 4/1967 Hooker22445.14 3,317,055 5/1967 Roscicki 224'45.14X 3,362,599 1/ 1968 Galazin224-45.14

GERALD M. *FORLENZA, Primary \Examiner F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner

